Billy was born within sight of the shipyard First son of a riveter's son And Billy was raised as the ship grew a shadow Her great hull would blot out the light of the sun

And six days a week he would watch his poor father A working man live like a slave He'd drink every night and he'd dream of a future Of money he never would save And Billy would cry when he thought of the future

Soon came a day when the bottle was broken They launched a great ship out to sea He felt he'd been left on a desolate shore To a future he desperately wanted to flee What else was there for a riveter's son A new ship to be built, new work to be done

One day he dreamed of the ship in the world It would carry his father and he To a place they would never be found To a place far away from this town.

Trapped in the cage of the skeleton ship All the workmen suspended like flies Caught in the flare of acetylene light A working man works till the industry dies And Billy would cry when he thought of the future

Then what they call an industrial accident Crushed those it couldn't forgive They brought Billy's father back home in an ambulance A brass watch, a cheque, maybe three weeks to live, And what else was there for a riveter's son A new ship to be built, new work to be done

That night, he dreamed of the ship in the world It would carry his father and he To a place they could never be found To a place far away from this town, A Newcastle ship without coals They would sail to the island of souls.